US President Donald Trump on Saturday, 28 June announced fresh American air strikes on Iranian military targets, accusing Tehran of again breaching the ceasefire agreement by attacking a commercial oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. In a stark warning posted on Truth Social, Trump declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran 'will no longer exist' if such attacks continue.

What Triggered the Strikes

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iranian forces launched a one-way attack drone that struck the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku at 4:30 a.m. ET on Saturday. The vessel was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil at the time of the strike.

CENTCOM stated that the operation was carried out at the President's direct order 'in response to continued Iranian aggression against commercial shipping.' The command noted that Iran had been given an opportunity to honour the ceasefire following Friday's US strikes — themselves a response to an earlier Iranian attack on the vessel M/V Ever Lovely — but chose not to comply.

Targets Hit and Trump's Warning

In his Truth Social post, Trump said US aircraft had struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations as well as coastal radar sites. CENTCOM separately confirmed that US military aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities, and minelayer capabilities.

Trump's post read: 'United States aircraft just struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN! It is very possible that they will never learn!'

He added: 'There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!'

Escalation Despite Ceasefire

The latest strikes mark a sharp escalation despite a ceasefire agreement announced earlier in the week, following days of direct military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Washington has repeatedly accused Tehran of targeting commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which a significant share of the world's seaborne oil supply passes.

Notably, this is the second consecutive day of US strikes on Iranian targets, raising questions about the durability of any negotiated pause. The pattern — ceasefire announced, ceasefire breached, strikes resumed — signals that the underlying military standoff remains unresolved.

Shipping and Regional Impact

CENTCOM asserted that 'commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz continue,' and that 'US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready.' However, the repeated targeting of tankers in one of the world's most strategically sensitive waterways is likely to heighten insurance premiums and freight costs for crude shipments, with implications for global oil markets.

With both sides showing no sign of stepping back, the coming hours will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can be salvaged or whether the confrontation deepens further.